Santana helps lead Ashwaubenon past Preble

Ashwaubenon quarterback Will Ark (14) throws under heavy pressure by Green Bay Preble lineman Zach Kratky (55) at Goelz Field on Friday. See more pictures from the game at greenbaypressgazette.com.(Photo: Jim Matthews/Press-Gazette Media)Buy Photo

Ashwaubenon High School running back Josiah Santana (2) celebrates his long touchdown run with teammate Nathan Holly (88) against Preble High School at Goelz Field August 28, 2015.
Jim Matthews/Press-Gazette Media

Ashwaubenon High School quarterback Will Ark (14) throws under heavy pressure by Hornet lineman Zach Kratky (55) against Preble High School at Goelz Field August 28, 2015.
Jim Matthews/Press-Gazette Media

Ashwaubenon High School's 135 pound defensive back Corey Franklin (25) gets thrown aside by 220 pound fullback Nathan Prevost (42) in the game against Preble High School at Goelz Field August 28, 2015.
Jim Matthews/Press-Gazette Media

Ashwaubenon High School running back Josiah Santana (2) plunges through the tackle of lineman Zach Kratky (55) into the end zone for a touchdown against Preble High School at Goelz Field August 28, 2015.
Jim Matthews/Press-Gazette Media

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First-year quarterback Will Ark threw for 245 yards and a TD, while tight end David Clark had another big week in catching four passes for 121 yards.

“Will is a great quarterback, and he hasn’t missed a beat yet this season with (former quarterback) James (Morgan) gone,” Santana said. “You know, I didn’t think there was too much pressure on me. We have a great backfield and an offensive line and a receiving corps.”

It’s only two games into the season, but the Jaguars (2-0) have the look of a team with all the pieces in place to win a conference championship if they can stay relatively healthy.

They already lost a key piece to the offense during practice on Wednesday, when standout receiver Jaret Curtis injured a knee. It is believed the senior sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is out for the season.

His teammates picked up the slack against Preble, starting with Santana.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior gave Ashwaubenon a 7-0 lead in the opening minutes of the first quarter on an 11-yard touchdown run, which was set up by a 56-yard reception from Clark on third down one play earlier.

The Jaguars covered 70 yards on four plays during the drive, but they were just getting started.

Santana scored on a 57-yard TD run on the first play of the next drive after Ashwaubenon defensive back Cole Steinike intercepted a Coy Wanner pass.

Santana finished his electric half with a 5-yard TD run and converted on a 2-point conversion to put Ashwaubenon up 22-0 with 4 minutes, 56 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

“Give props to the offensive line,” Ashwaubenon coach Mark Jonas said. “That’s a really big defensive line in front of you. We had a good scheme. (Assistant coach Chad) VanLaanen and that group did a great job preparing for the game, and the kids executed well.

“Josie’s just got heart. And the kid is strong. He is hard to bring down when he doesn’t want to go down on the ground.”

Preble got on the board with a 36-yard field goal from Austin Lasee in the final seconds of the half, but the deficit proved to be too much against a Jaguars defense that has allowed just 17 points so far.

Still, the Hornets had a chance to make a game of it midway through the third quarter after they recovered a muffed punt at the Ashwaubenon 22, but the Jaguars forced a fumble inside their own 5 to end the threat and any real chance of Preble staging a comeback.

The Hornets mostly dominated the third quarter and had the ball inside the red zone twice, but the fumble and a missed field goal kept them from building any momentum.

“We had a stretch where we didn’t move the ball at all, it was pretty frustrating,” Jonas said. “We went backwards a couple times. We can’t do that going forward. You just can’t do that. If you don’t go forward, at least don’t go backward.

“But there is a great balance there. When teams have to prepare for Josiah, that opens it up for everything else.”

Santana put the game away on the first play of the fourth quarter, racing down the left sideline for a 42-yard TD that put Ashwaubenon up 29-3.

The Jaguars then scored on a 4-yard TD pass from Ark to Will Toonen with 7:35 left, before Preble capped the scoring with a 1-yard TD run from quarterback Dylan VanBoxel in the final seconds.

Preble has lost six straight games dating back to last season and has scored a total of 27 points during that stretch.

It had a tough start to this season in drawing defending FRCC champion Bay Port in Week 1 and an Ashwaubenon team that tied for second in the league in Week 2.

The Hornets (0-2) will attempt to get back on track with a home game against Manitowoc next week, while Ashwaubenon will play at Green Bay Notre Dame.